Tap into savings

Tap into Savings has recruited the Godiva sisters (see photograph below) into an EcoTeam to help them learn new ways of saving water, gas, electricity and money. By joining the EcoTeam the Godiva sisters will meet once a month for five months and learn how they can save over £100 on household bills and reduce their water consumption by 15 percent.

EcoTeams are being run as part of Tap into Savings, a project which launched in Tile Hill and Canley in July which is installing water and energy saving products in people’s homes for free, and encouraging all residents in Coventry to join an EcoTeam to help them save even more. All Coventry residents are invited to come along to EcoTeam meetings to look at different ways to save water, gas and electricity and to learn how to recycle more and these events are totally free.

Pru Porretta, Coventry’s Lady Godiva says, “The sisters and I are looking forward to learning about how we can do more to save precious resources such as water and energy. We urge all residents in Coventry to sign up to an EcoTeam. Not only can you learn ways to reduce your impact on the environment, but you can also save money, and get to know your neighbours at the same time!”

Kate Hunter, Tap into Savings project facilitator says, “Typically, EcoTeamers can save over £100 a year on household bills, reduce water use by 15 percent decrease the amount of rubbish by 20 percent and cut the amount of climate changing gases produced by 17 percent. That is impressive for some simple changes in the household. By joining together in small local groups, residents can learn a great deal from each other too, and get some free products to take home and try!”

Tap into Savings is also offering households in Tile Hill and Canley free water and energy-saving home visits where we install up to £40 of products to help you save up to £50 on household bills a year – all for free. Our installers will also give you information about how you can win some excellent prizes, and more information about EcoTeams. Kate and the rest of the Tap into Savings team will be organising EcoTeam meetings in response to interest from all Coventry residents, so the more calls they get, the better chance there is to have a local group. To sign up to a home visit, to ask about EcoTeams or anything else related to Tap into Savings you can email The Tap into Savings office on hello@tapintosavings.org or call 024 7685 6882 or find out more at www.tapintosavings.org. The first EcoTeam meeting will be on held in late October at Earlsdon Methodist Church on Earlsdon Avenue.

Tap into Savings is being delivered in partnership with Waterwise, Global Action Plan, Whitefriars Housing Group, Severn Trent Water, Coventry City Council, the Environment Agency and Defra.

For more information visit www.tapintosavings.org

Main contacts for media inquiries:
Victoria Higgins (for project lead, Waterwise)
vhiggins@waterwise.org.uk or 0207 344 1883

NOTES TO EDITORS
Tap into Savings is funded in part by the Greener Living Fund, which is sponsored by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) (www.defra.gov.uk).  Defra’s Third Sector Strategy, launched in November 2008, shows the Department’s commitment to working with the third sector (which includes voluntary and community organisations, charities, NGOs, co-operatives and social enterprises). The Greener Living Fund had a total budget of £6m to award in a two year funding period and contributes to the Government’s work towards a sustainable, low carbon and resource efficient economy.

TAP INTO SAVINGS PARTNERS

Coventry City Council   
www.coventry.gov.uk

Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
www.defra.gov.uk

Environment Agency
www.environment-agency.gov.uk

Global Action Plan
www.globalactionplan.org.uk
 
Severn Trent Water
www.stwater.co.uk/savewater

Waterwise
www.waterwise.org.uk

Whitefriars Housing Group
www.whitefriarshousing.co.uk